Sant'Anna Festival

Seven days for Saint Anne in the heart of the Piana del Sele

The Sant'Anna Festival is the most anticipated event of the summer in Matinella, the populous village of the Municipality of Albanella, in the Province of Salerno, Campania. Every year, during the last week of July, this agricultural hamlet in the Piana del Sele transforms: street lights illuminate the roads, Piazza Sant'Anna becomes the community's open-air living room, and for seven days, moments of prayer, traditional games, family nights, and major concerts take place.

The festival stems from the devotion to Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary and patron saint of mothers and families. It is organized by the Sant'Anna Festival Committee, chaired by the parish priest Father Carlo Ciocca, along with dozens of volunteers. The event is entirely self-funded through donations from the faithful, local business sponsorships, and the historic Sant'Anna Lottery, the drawing of which symbolically concludes the festivities.

The Sfilata delle Cente, the soul of tradition

The most iconic moment of the festival is the Sfilata delle Cente. The cente are traditional votive structures, beautifully decorated, which devotees carry in procession as an ex-voto and a sign of gratitude to the Saint. This ancient gesture is passed down from generation to generation in Matinella, involving entire families in their preparation.

The procession begins at Corso Europa, winds through the town, reaches Piazza Sant'Anna, and concludes at the Church of San Gennaro. It is a moment of deep community identity, often drawing back Matinella natives who have emigrated but return specifically for the festival.

The Sunday of Saint Anne: band, procession, and fireworks

July 26th, the liturgical day dedicated to the Saint, is the religious heart of the week. The day opens with the Magliano and Altavilla Silentina Marching Band touring the streets of Matinella, a ritual that has always marked the mornings of festivities in Southern Italian towns.

In the evening, the solemn procession takes place with the venerated image of Saint Anne, accompanied by the prayers of the faithful along the town's streets. At midnight, the sky over Matinella lights up with the traditional fireworks display, another unmissable highlight of the patronal festival.

Games, challenges, and evenings in the square

Alongside the religious dimension, the committee organizes a calendar of popular events every year that bring Piazza Sant'Anna to life from the first day to the last:

• Summer Tombola, on the evening the lights are turned on;
• Sant'Anna in Moto Rock, featuring a motorcycle tour through the local area, a blessing of the bikes, and a rock concert;
• La Fortuna, Gira!, a prize game with the Wheel of Saint Anne;
• Baby Party, an afternoon dedicated to children with entertainment, workshops, and bouncy castles;
• Tug of War, the most popular team challenge of the week;
• Karaoke in the square and musical performances by the youth of the San Gennaro Oratory.

The grand musical finale

The festival always concludes with a major musical evening in Piazza Martiri del Lavoro, which in recent years has brought well-known names from the Italian scene to Matinella: in 2025, a concert by Anna Tatangelo, and in 2026, a performance by Le Vibrazioni, led by the voice of Francesco Sarcina, preceded by DJ sets from DDL and PhantomKey. At midnight, the drawing of the Sant'Anna Lottery takes place, the final act of seven days of celebration.

Matinella, Albanella, and the gateway to Cilento

Matinella is located about five kilometers from the municipal seat of Albanella, in the heart of the Piana del Sele, the fertile plain between the Alburni Mountains and the sea, known for its buffalo, mozzarella, and intensive agriculture. We are at the gateway to the Cilento region and a short distance from the archaeological site of Paestum: those visiting this corner of Campania will find in the Sant'Anna Festival an opportunity to witness a living tradition, far from tourist circuits and truly experienced by the locals.